Most modern sails are designed to fit with inhauls. Using a rope and bobble round the mast will both make the broken part redundant and probably bè faster. Going down to a bolt in the boom is like sailing with the cunningham being on constantly ( slow)

@John Hartshorn the difference in the double floor wooden boat is significant . For sure on flat water and sub planing conditions I can " stumble" my Miles up to the front of my club fleet. And the lack of belief by most of the rest means prices are crazily low ( if you have a mid winter home for her)

When I joined the fleet John Greenwood at Finn weight was doing very well in Solos. Jim Hunt at his Finn campaign weight was also winning in the Solo. With Finns very physical pumping ( rowing?) I would suggest that a Solo with a stiff mast and Chris Brown style deeper sail,will do you very well. And flying upwind in stronger breeze will be very satisfying! Don't write off a later double floor wooden boat- sensible price and its even more fun beating plastic boats

Thanks for advice- very useful. Next on my target list is to make sure that our club ODs set some courses with some dead runs!

With the traveller centralised you will need to use the kicker more to control sail shape. No problem with this but less headroom means possibly more capsizes. At the same time its easier to oversheet and bring the boom in too far - not fast.With no traveller or kicker on, as you let the main out all power will be lost and you may tip in to windward I would fix the traveller - its unlikely to be a big job I speak as a mid fleet, occasional swimmer. I look forward to further input from further up the fleet

@Guy Mayger thanks Guy- we have a new member of the fleet at Blithfield just waiting for his new Winder so its time to get serious!

@Ralph Wilson I did a few great events on Venacher when the Scots championships were held there- I found all locals brave as they dealt with the midges as we came off the water!

@Ralph Wilson I capsize most when I am concerned about capsizing! I think the confidence that comes with recovery practice will also tend to keep things upright.

Definitely over the side, try to centralise the rudder and keep the boat from heading up and pull in on the centreboard capping or toestrap. Going over the transom gives a high chance of breaking something.

I think Nigel is a brave man to take this project on with the average age and computer skills of Solo sailors! Logged in with no problems. Initially images were only covering part of the screen but using different browser sorted this